The Volvo China Open has officially entered a new era of environmental stewardship. The tournament organizing committee, in partnership with the European Tour Group, has signed the Sustainable Championships Charter, marking an upgraded commitment to "Green Action" ahead of the 2026 event.
As the third of four counting events on the DP World Tour’s Asian Swing, the 2026 Volvo China Open is scheduled to take place from April 23–26. By joining the Charter, China’s national open aligns itself with the highest global standards of sustainability, joining the ranks of elite tournaments like the Rolex Series and the Ryder Cup.
The move builds on years of groundwork. The tournament began exploring sustainable management in 2019 and fully implemented these practices in 2021. Since 2024, the event has operated under the European Tour Group’s "Green Drive" framework, earning official "Green Action" certificates for two consecutive years.
The 2025 event in Shanghai served as a successful blueprint for the Charter's goals, yielding significant environmental and social data:
The Sustainable Championships Charter, developed alongside the GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf, focuses on five key pillars: reducing resource waste, protecting natural environments, increasing staff efficiency, engaging partners, and generating positive publicity.
"We look forward to this charter assisting the Volvo China Open organizing committee in making steady progress... so that golf events not only serve as stages for sports competitions but also create more value for all stakeholders and bring more profound positive impacts to human society and the Earth's ecology." — Maria Grandinetti-Milton, Director of Sustainability at the European Tour Group.
For the Volvo China Open, the signing represents a "new starting point" rather than a finish line.
"Since accepting the guidance of the European Tour Group’s ‘Green Action’ program in 2024, the Volvo China Open has made significant progress," said Ms. Michel Zhao, Chairperson of the Volvo China Open Board of Directors. "This year, we officially signed and joined the ‘Sustainable Tournament Charter’... We will actively draw on international advanced experience, explore innovative practical solutions, and promote the sustainable development of the event to a new level."
By adopting the best practices outlined in the Charter, the 2026 tournament aims to further minimize its carbon footprint while maximizing its social contribution to the region, setting a benchmark for professional golf in Asia.
The Sustainable Championships Charter, developed alongside the GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf, focuses on five key pillars: reducing resource waste, protecting natural environments, increasing staff efficiency, engaging partners, and generating positive publicity.
"We look forward to this charter assisting the Volvo China Open organizing committee in making steady progress... so that golf events not only serve as stages for sports competitions but also create more value for all stakeholders and bring more profound positive impacts to human society and the Earth's ecology." — Maria Grandinetti-Milton, Director of Sustainability at the European Tour Group.
For the Volvo China Open, the signing represents a "new starting point" rather than a finish line.
"Since accepting the guidance of the European Tour Group’s ‘Green Action’ program in 2024, the Volvo China Open has made significant progress," said Ms. Michel Zhao, Chairperson of the Volvo China Open Board of Directors. "This year, we officially signed and joined the ‘Sustainable Tournament Charter’... We will actively draw on international advanced experience, explore innovative practical solutions, and promote the sustainable development of the event to a new level."
By adopting the best practices outlined in the Charter, the 2026 tournament aims to further minimize its carbon footprint while maximizing its social contribution to the region, setting a benchmark for professional golf in Asia.
